Sports writer with The Age

JIMMY Bartel, Geelong's delegate with the AFL Players Association, says the three-strikes illicit drugs policy must remain, but admits the loophole allowing players to self-report drug use and escape censure deserves to be heavily scrutinised.

Bartel, one of the game's astute thinkers and considered a future club chief executive, has urged club bosses, the league and the AFLPA to adopt a cautious approach when they meet on Wednesday at the AFL player welfare summit.

The debate over the use of illicit drugs by players will be the headline agenda item.

''I hope there is no drastic call for things. That's the age we live in - there has to be a big thing that needs to be done or drastic movement,'' Bartel told Fairfax Media in an expansive interview.

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''There are huge issues in society relating to drugs - that's the one everyone is talking about. I think we have monitored it pretty well, considering there are just under 800 players playing from the ages of 17 to 30.

''We have been able to look after the players' welfare firstly. We are not policemen, we are not trying to out them and embarrass them. As long as we maintain the welfare of the players and get them the right education and understanding of what is going on, I think you are going to weed out the bad apples eventually.''

Six players tested positive to illicit drugs in 2011 but AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has already warned there will be a rise in numbers when last year's figures are released.

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert says some players are guilty of ''volcanic behaviour'' during the off-season and mid-season breaks when they are free from their clubs.

Of concern to several club bosses is the three-strikes policy. As it stands, only club doctors are informed a player has tested positive on a first or second strike. Others only find out on a third strike.

At least one club has argued the current system enhances rumours about certain players, potentially jeopardising the club's brand.

Bartel revealed he initially was in favour of a player being rubbed out after one strike.

''A few years ago, I wasn't [in favour of three strikes] but the more I have been educated and learnt, the more I think you need three strikes,'' he said.

''Young men make mistakes. I don't think you should completely bury a bloke's career or reputation on one mistake. Two [strikes], you need some serious help, which they get, and education. If you are going to be foolish enough to do it three times, well, then you deserve to be out. I have leant that way.''

Players can be tested at any time during the post-season through hair tests. AFLPA board and delegate members were split on the strikes policy at their pre-Christmas meeting.

Geelong chief executive Brian Cook believes it may be time for clubs to be told after two strikes.

The self-reporting of drug use by players, an issue predominantly surrounding one AFL club, is also of concern to club bosses. Players have confessed to accidentally taking drugs. By doing this, players escape a strike and are not tested. It is a loophole that could soon be closed or restricted to one admission per player.

''I am sure it will be looked at pretty seriously,'' Bartel said.

''If we can close it - and as far as public image and what people think AFL players get up to in their spare time becomes a lot more positive than what it is - I am all for that. Every loophole in any business or industry, there are always a couple of bad eggs who try and expose it. Things always get found out in the end, I think.''

While some club chief executives are fearful about what cashed-up players with time on their hands do during their time off, Bartel has questioned what administrators really want.

Some club administrators have debated whether the end-of-season breaks should be slashed from a typical six to eight weeks, while others remain fearful when groups of players meet overseas and party.

''People often complain they [footballers] live in an environment and in a shell and they don't know anything about the real world,'' Bartel said.

''But if you let them go in the real world, you can't complain about what they go and do … When they are out in the world, they still have to abide by the laws. If they break those laws, they will be punished.

''I don't know what extra laws you want to hold them up to.''

Players' union representative Ian Prendergast says he is keen to discuss several aspects of the current drugs policy at next week's forum.

''Confidentiality is the key pillar in terms of the illicit drugs policy that's in place at the moment,'' he said.

''In our view, they are quite substantial changes which we'll be discussing.

''There's been some discussion about the opportunity for players to self-report. We've had some talks with the AFL's medical directors about that. We don't think it has been exploited as such yet but perhaps there are some emerging trends that we can deal with quite simply.''